Summer squash, including zucchini and yellow varieties, are often distinguished by bushy (rather than vining) growth.

Winter squash, such as acorn and butternut, are typically vining plants that require more space and time to grow. But they produce fruit with tougher skins, which allows you to store harvests much longer than you can summer varieties.

All types of squash love sun and heat. So for best results (and bigger harvests), grow squash in full sun once temperatures consistently stay above 70˚.

Fun Fact: Squash is so prolific that August 8 is officially designated National Sneak Some Zucchini Onto Your Neighbor’s Porch Day—a day dedicated to giving away excess harvests.

You may need to hand pollinate your squash for reliable yields.

Planting, Pruning, Pollinating and Protecting Squash

Ready to grow squash in your Tower Garden? Start by planting no more than 2 seeds per rock wool cube. Once they sprout, place seedlings outside in the sun for 3–4 weeks before transplanting to your Tower Garden.

Since both summer and winter varieties grow quite large, we recommend planting squash in the bottom section of your Tower Garden. Be sure to monitor water levels as your plants grow, as squash are heavy feeders.

Harvesting and Eating Squash

Most summer squash varieties will be ready to harvest about 60 days after planting. To harvest, simply cut fruits from the vine once they are 6–8 inches long. If you wait much longer, they will become less tender and flavorful.

Winter squash are a little different. When the rind of a fruit is hard enough to resist being punctured with a fingernail, it’s ready to harvest. You can usually store winter squash in a cool, dark place for up to 6 months.